A brilliant all-round performance helped Rajasthan Royals (RR) win by four wickets against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Eliminator of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The victory sealed RR’s passage through to the Qualifier 2, where they face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Chennai. 

RR won the toss and chose to bowl first. RCB’s innings showed promise for a bigger total as numerous batters got off to starts but none converted them into a big score. Whenever RCB showed that promise, RR’s bowlers would come into the mix and pick up a wicket to dent their momentum. 

To begin with, Trent Boult bowled an excellent spell with the new ball – conceding only six runs in his three overs and taking the wicket of Faf du Plessis for 17.

Rovman Powell, you beauty 🤩

Sheer brilliance to lift 🆙 his side 🩷#RCB lose their skipper!

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At the other end, runs flowed with Sandeep Sharma conceding 12 in the second over. Avesh Khan was brought in for the fourth and was welcomed with a pull shot for six by Virat Kohli. Boult dismissed du Plessis in the fifth over when he tried going over mid-wicket and Rovman Powell took a good catch diving forward in the deep. 

Cameron Green was sent in at No 3, ahead of Rajat Patidar. RCB finished the powerplay at 50 for one. Yuzvendra Chahal was brought on in the eighth over, and Kohli, in an attempt to increase RCB’s run-rate, holed out to mid-wicket for 33. RR had gotten a big breakthrough! The next few overs witnessed a see-saw battle. While Green took the attack to Chahal, Patidar was taking his time finding his touch. 

Meanwhile, R Ashwin bowled a crucial spell in the middle overs, keeping a check on the runs at the other end. That pressure ultimately resulted in the RCB batters taking unnecessary risks. Patidar got a reprieve when he was dropped by the long-on fielder while running in. However, Green (27 off 21 balls) holed out to cover in the 13th over, where Powell caught him. Off the next ball, Glenn Maxwell hit it in the air to long-on and was caught comfortably. RCB were 97 for four in 13 overs. 

Cameron Green ✅
Glenn Maxwell ✅

Ravichandran Ashwin unveiling his magic at a crucial stage ✨

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Patidar seemed to find his mojo soon after with two sixes within the next seven balls. Avesh then got the breakthrough as Patidar holed out to mid-off for 34 in the 15th over. Dinesh Karthik walked out and off the first ball, he faced a vociferous appeal for leg-before. The on-field call of out was reversed by the third-umpire. 

In the slog overs, it was Mahipal Lomror’s aggressive batting that helped RCB get to their eventual score. He faced 17 balls for his 32 and ensured they went past 160. In the last over, Swapnil Singh and Karn Sharma got a couple of boundaries to push to 172. 

When RR started the run-chase, the RCB bowlers seemed to be getting help from the wicket as the batters were kept quiet in the first two overs. Yashaswi Jaiswal broke the shackles in the third over, when he managed to pick four fours off Yash Dayal – one of which was a tough chance dropped at first slip. RR picked up pace as the openers added 46. RCB got their first breakthrough in the fifth over when Lockie Ferguson bowled a great slower ball to castle Tom Kohler-Cadmore for 20. 

Crashed into the stumps! 🔥

Royal Challengers Bengaluru gets their first breakthrough as Lockie Ferguson strikes ⚡️⚡️

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Sanju Samson and Jaiswal kept up with the required rate and found the boundaries. Jaiswal moved into the 40s and with the half-way mark approaching, he tried to scoop Green but got a feather through to the wicketkeeper. Soon after, Samson charged to Karn and was stumped off a wide for 17. 

𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱! 🫣

Captain Sanju Samson is stumped off a wide delivery ☝️

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The responsibility fell upon the shoulders of Riyan Parag, who had to rally the run-chase. Although there was a jitter when Dhruv Jurel was brilliantly run-out courtesy a throw form Kohli, Parag was calm and combined with Shimron Hetmyer, the Impact Player, to make a calculated assault on the bowlers. 

With five overs to go, RR needed 48. Hetmyer hit a six over long-on off the first ball by Green. Parag then lofted a six over cover and guided one through third-man for a four. That put the match firmly in RR’s grasp, as the required rate was no longer a worry. Hetmyer’s contribution was important. He returned to action after a gap and delivered when his team needed it the most – absorbing the pressure with all his experience.  Although Siraj returned to dismiss Parag (36 off 26) and Hetmyer (26 off 14 balls), the equation was down to run-a-ball. Rovman Powell made sure there were no more hiccups as he finished it off in style with two fours and a six to win it for RR in the penultimate over.

Over to Chennai!